"I cannot find the "Move to xxx" button from application detailed information window.
"If the device does not have a real primary external storage or the primary external storage is emulated. Moving app to SD function will not be supported by Android system. It's the limitation of hardware. Please get more information from device manufacture."

Is there a way around this? If it is actually a hardware limitation and not the OS, I would guess I am out of luck. But somehow I think there must be a way to work around this. I can store files on the SD card without any problems.

I would like to do this without rooting the device, but if that is neccesary AND if it has worked for others (I don't want to be the first to experiment with this), I might learn how to do that.

Rank:

None

Points:

Posts:

Joined:

Jul 4, 2012

Hi,
I have the same problem with my Acer Iconia A100. My brother has a Galaxy 7.0 Plus and he too has no ''move to sd'' button... I have browsed multiple forums and found no answer. Any app I install (namely App2sd) does not help as it just directs me to the settings-apps page... Does anyone have an answer I really need the space... I have 8GB of internal 4 taken up by the OS and really need the space... Also inside the internal memory there seems to be some sort of memory location called SDcard which is not actually my sd... Any help on moving would be much appreciated as any apps I've tried just direct me to the same place...

Thread Starter

Rank:

None

Points:

Posts:

Joined:

May 11, 2012

I contacted Samsung tech support and was informed that you simply can't move applications (apps) to the SD card. They said (and I already knew this) that you can move files and multimedia files to the SD card, however.

I'm hoping that they will update their version of Android 4.0.x and enable this feature, if it's not a hardware issue.

Rank:

None

Points:

Posts:

Joined:

Jan 10, 2012

If you are rooted you can use a few different apps to move some data over to an external SD card, manually.
I'm able to use Link2SD, and GL to SD. I have used GL to SD to move other data besides just Gameloft games. Not everything works using it, so you would have to experiment to see what does and does not work.

Rank:

None

Points:

Posts:

Joined:

Dec 7, 2009

If you are rooted you can use a few different apps to move some data over to an external SD card, manually.
I'm able to use Link2SD, and GL to SD. I have used GL to SD to move other data besides just Gameloft games. Not everything works using it, so you would have to experiment to see what does and does not work.

Click to expand...

Oh cool! Is this the method you are talking about? I don't have the tab 2 but I came across this thread at rootz and I was hoping someone would confirm it.

Rank:

None

Points:

Posts:

Joined:

May 5, 2012

Just out of curiosity, what is the motivation to move your apps to the external card on the Tab. With as much internal memory as there is, it seems there is plenty of space for the apps internally, if you put your images, music, and videos on the External card. I have a huge number of apps and am not seeing any problems.

When I had earlier Android devices with much less space for apps, I saw the advantage, but with all of the internal memory and the fact that apps WILL run faster on this memory, I'm at a loss of understanding.

Rank:

None

Points:

Posts:

Joined:

Dec 7, 2009

Just out of curiosity, what is the motivation to move your apps to the external card on the Tab. With as much internal memory as there is, it seems there is plenty of space for the apps internally, if you put your images, music, and videos on the External card. I have a huge number of apps and am not seeing any problems.

When I had earlier Android devices with much less space for apps, I saw the advantage, but with all of the internal memory and the fact that apps WILL run faster on this memory, I'm at a loss of understanding.

Thanks.

Click to expand...

I tend to agree. The only reason I can think of is if a person is really in to playing games such as Sims free play that takes alot of space. I think Sims free play is almost a gig after installing it.

Thread Starter

Rank:

None

Points:

Posts:

Joined:

May 11, 2012

Just out of curiosity, what is the motivation to move your apps to the external card on the Tab. With as much internal memory as there is, it seems there is plenty of space for the apps internally, if you put your images, music, and videos on the External card. I have a huge number of apps and am not seeing any problems.
Thanks.

Click to expand...

I haven't run out of space, but I am aware that free space can affect the speed of operation of the OS to some extent. The Galaxy Tab 2 only has 1/2 of the space of it's predecessor and a slightly slower (20% ?) processor. So, having 8 GB of total space for programs and the OS, I just want to be sure I don't slow the thing down.

Rank:

None

Points:

Posts:

Joined:

Nov 18, 2010

Is not only about moving the app but the data from apps. For example, Google Earth might be 15 MB (not sure) but the data cached in your internal memory grows like crazy (especially with 3D maps) so you end up with a 400MB in your internal memory. Same goes for apps like Zinio, Next Issue, Currents, pretty much any game.

Developers need to build the apps to be able to store the data on external drives. Many people will be disappointed when they start doing this on their nexus 7, and realize they have no choice add extra data to their sd card... because there is none.

Rank:

None

Points:

Posts:

Joined:

Dec 20, 2010

I have two 4.04 ICS devices, a 32GB Galaxy Nexus and an 8GB Tab 2 7.0. I also have a 2.2 and 2.3 tablet. The 2.x devices have a limited internal flash memory of about 1.6GB which is used to initially load apps. One tablet has 16GB internal flash plus a slot for an external SD. The internal SD card (the "SD Card") has about 12.5GB maximum. The other 2.x tablet does not specify the internal flash memory and also has an external slot for a SD Card which is the "SD Card". At least a 2GB card is required for it to operate. It shipped with a 2GB card installed. All downloaded apps are loaded into the internal flash 1.6GB memory. Some apps can have a portion of them moved to the "SD Card" (not the external SD Card in the case of the 16GB device). Some apps automatically do that while others will not move any data to the SD Card like MAPs. The apps are moved in Settings- Application Management.
The 4.ox devices do not have (show anywhere at least) an internal flash memory. They both show that the apps are loaded into the "SD Card". There is no internal memory mentioned in Settings-Storage. It seems to me that the entire available memory in the "SD Card" is available to load apps into so "move to SD Card" is meaningless since that is where they are initially placed. Of course there are other files also loaded into the "SD Card". Like the 2.x devices there is no option in non-rooted devices to load any portion of any app into the external SD Card. This means that if the 4.ox device has an 8GB internal flash then the maximum memory size of the "SD Card" is a little over 5GB and when it fills with apps there is no way to add more apps. I am not a gamer who uses large game apps so I have found that 1.6GB with SD Card storage (2.x devices) or the 5GB+ of the tab is more than adequate for my needs since I have up to 32GB of storage in the external SD Card for pictures. videos and music. My 32 GB Galaxy Nexus has 28GB of max "SD Card" memory for apps. This also means that 4.0x and likely 4.1x non-rooted devices with only 8GB of internal flash may limit the number of large game apps that can be loaded and would provide a reason for that type user to get the 16GB version if available.
I have tried but have not been to verify anything I have stated about the 4.x devices and may be completely wrong in my conclusions based on my observations of two devices. I also have not looked at any 3.x devices.

Rank:

None

Points:

Posts:

Joined:

Dec 20, 2010

I also use the Astro File Manager which has a nice backup application. They just upgraded it for ICS and JB. The Apps are saved in a Backup/Apps folder in the internal memory but it can be setup to use the ext SD card instead. The Apps are stored with their respective names and saved in their xxx.apk installable form. They can be copied and moved to another device and installed (i.e using Dropbox).

Rank:

None

Points:

Posts:

Joined:

Sep 8, 2010

I also use the Astro File Manager which has a nice backup application. They just upgraded it for ICS and JB. The Apps are saved in a Backup/Apps folder in the internal memory but it can be setup to use the ext SD card instead. The Apps are stored with their respective names and saved in their xxx.apk installable form. They can be copied and moved to another device and installed (i.e using Dropbox).

Click to expand...

I have the latest ASTRO Version 4.0.423 where I can NOT find the option to

" but it can be setup to use the ext SD card instead." as you state. How is this done, can you please explain. Thanks.